dixon



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. G. DIXON.

CHECK 0N BILLIARD MARKERS.

No. 592,240. Patented Oct. 26,1897.

6 W 7 im s C1: Jnwyzfir (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. G. DIXON. CHECK0N BILLIARD MARKERS.

Patented Oct. 26,1897.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 3. J. G. DIXON.

CHECK 0N BILLIARD MARKERS.

No. 592,240. Patented Oct. 26,1897.

limits rates ATENT @rrrcn.

JOI-IN GEORGE DIXON, OF PENISTONE, ENGLAND.

CHECK ON BiLLIARD-MARKERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,240, dated October26, 1897.

Application filed September 14, 1896. Serial No. 605,808. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN GEORGE DIXON, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Don Villa, Penistone, in the county ofYork, Englanchhave invented a new and useful Improved Check on Billiard-Marlrers and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

At the present time there is practically no check upon "billiard-markersto insure that the number of games played or the amount of time forwhich a billiard-table is used is correctly accounted for to theemployer.

I purpose with my invention to arrange such a check so that if the tableis not in use the several pockets or corners of the table will beobstructed, and when the table is required for use the pockets have tobe released, the action of such release indicating the time the releasehas taken place, and consequently the time at which the table wasbrought into use. Until the pockets are again obstructed it is to beassumed that the table is in use, and is therefore to be paid for oraccounted for to the employer.

The way in which I carry out my invention is as follows Assuming theordinary billiardtable has six pockets, (the number of pockets isimmaterial to my invention,) each pocket in the normal condition of thetablethat is to say, when it is not in use-has a peg or 0bstructionfixed, preferably, in the center, so that a ball cannot locate in thepocket, the distance between the peg, which is in the center, and theside of the pocket being smaller than the diameter of a ball. Below thepocket is an electrical contact, and in the normal condition of the pegor obstruction no current is flowing. From the contacts wires are takento any spot, preferably near the marker, and in connection with theelectric wire there is any means of indicating by pencil, needle, orotherwise when the peg is removed from 0bstructing the pocket, and suchindication is continued until the peg is placed normal and againobstructs the pocket. It is understood that the removal of theobstruction from any one of the pockets sets up action indicating thatthe table is brought into use, but the table continues to be indicatedas in use until everyone of the obstructions are again placed at all ofthe pockets on the tablethat is to say, that the table is indicated asout of use when the last pocket is obstructed.

In order that my said invention may be better understood and morereadily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the drawingshereunto annexed.

Figure lis a plan of a corner-pocket. Fig. 2 is a front View of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a section on line 'A B of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan of theequivalent contact device for such tables as have no pockets. Theobstruction is placed in the corner and must be removed to play thegame. Fig. 5 is a section on line C D of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan of thebox, showing the magnet and clockwork mechanism. Fig. 7 is a sideelevation, partly in section, of the instrument shown in Fig. 6, withthe lower part added, showing the roll of indicating-paper in position.Fig. 8 shows a design of paper for indicating the time during which thetable is in use. On this paper the hours, halfhours, and quarters areshown, so that the time may be gaged with accuracy. Fig. 9 is a plan ofthe table, showing the electrical connections from the several pocketsto the electromagnet and indicating-pencil.

The same numbers refer to the same parts in the several figures of thedrawings.

1 is the corner-pocket of the table.

2 is the cloth, and 3 the table-leg.

4 is the obstructing-slide, and 5 the casein which the said slide movesup and down.

6 is the thumb-screw or handle by which 4 is operated.

7 is a spring normally out of contact with the terminal 8 and normallyin contact with the terminal 9. The terminals 8 and 9 are insulated fromeach other.

The obstructing-slide carrier 5 is screwed to the leg of the table, asshown in Fig. 2.

10 is a billiard-ball. WVhen the slide is pushed down, the terminals 8and 9 are placed in circuit.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4.- and 5, 11 is the handle of theobstructing-arm (shown on plan, Fig. 4) for tables not provided withpockets.

12 and 13 are contact-springs for setting up IOC the electric current toindicate the time the table is in use, the action being similar to thatwith reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 9.

l-t is the plate to which the magnet is attached.

15 is the eleetromagnet for indicating when the table is brought intouse, while it is in use, and again indicating when it is put out of use.

16 is the projecting core of the electromagnet 15.

17 is the armature, 'iulcrumed at 18, the end 19 forming thepencil-carrier for indicating on the paper when the table is broughtinto use, while it is in use, and when itis put out of use.

20 is a projecting arm from which a spring 21 is connected to thearmature 17.

22 is the special paper for recording the time during which the table inuse.

23 is a roll or barrel over which the paper passes.

et is a cog-wheel operating the barrel 23, the said cog-wheel beinggeared to another cog-wheel 25, connected to and operated by theclockwork mechanism.

26 is a roller for keeping the paper (lat on the barrel, rendering themarking by the pencil easier.

27 is the pencil for marking on the paper.

28 is a weight for insuring that. the pencil is kept in contact with thepaper.

20, Fig. 9, is the battery.

The electric circuit is provided with two loops 231i and 333', eachcompletely encircling the table. The loop 23.1. is formed in the wire31, and the loop is formed in the wire 33. The loops carry a series ofpairs of insulated contaet-pieces, and the circuit is completed whenevera contact-piece on one loop is conneeted with its adjacent contact-pieceon the other loop.

The action of my invention is as follows: In the drawings, Fig. 9, forthe purpose of illustration, one stop or obstruction 30 is assumed to bethrust down or removed clear of the pocket and making contact. It willbe seen on following this that the current liows from the copper end ofthe battery along wire 31, through contact :32, wire 33, through theelectremagnet 15, along wire Set to the ZillC end of the battery 2.).The result of this is that the armature 17 is attracted to the magnet 15in the position shown in this diagram. Theline i iin this diagram, whenthe armature is normal, is the line which is made by the pencil when thetable is out of use-that is, when the pockets or corners areobstructedthe paper being revolved by the clockwork mechanism,so thatthere is always a line being made on the paper. \Vhen the table isbrought into use, as hereinbetore described, the attraction of thearmature moves the pencil from the line it, makes the cross-line at),and then while the table is in use (or as long as the pockets are freed)continues to make the parallel line -10. lVhen the table is put out ofuse again, (pockets again obstrueted,) the armature ceases to beattracted and assumes its normal straight position through spring it,making another cross-line -i-7,l ig. The pencil then continues to markon the right-hand vertical line 18, the table not being in use. Onreference to Fig. 8 it will be seen that as suming the table is broughtinto use at ten oclock and continues to be used till halt-past eleven,when it is put out of use, the line 47 indicated when it was put out oiuse, and the line 45 ind ieated when it was brought into use.

It is obvious that the particular shape oi. the obstruction to thepocket or its position and method of working, whether vertical orhorizontal, might be varied. The form of contact by which electricity isset up through. the release of the pocket taking place might also bevaried, or the particular method oi indicating when the table is broughtinto use and put out ot' use might be varied.

liaving fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters l. at cut, is

1.. The combinatirm, with a billiard-table, of an electric circuitcomprising a battery and wires 31 and 33, said wires being provided withloops 3i and 3 3 respectively and the said loops being arranged toencircle the said table and provided with pairs of contactpieces; aseries of; movable obstructions normally projecting at intervals abovethe surface of the table and provided with contact pieces any one ofwhich will complete the circuit through the wires 3i and 53 when theobstruction to which it pertains is depressed; an electromagnetenergized when the circuit is completed, a pivoted and spring-controlledarmature provided with an indicating-pencil, and clockwork-drivingmechanism operating to move a band of paper under the pencil,substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with a billiard-table, of acase secured to thetable, an obstruction slidable in the said case and normally projectingabove the surface of the table, means for supporting the obstruction inits raised position, an electric circuit provided with terminalsinsulated from each other and carried by the said case, and a springsecured to one terminal and arranged below the said ob struction so thatit is moved into contact with the other terminal when the said.obstruction is depressed below the surface of the table, substantiallyas set forth.

JOHN nl lOlf-ttil l DlX'Uhi.

\Vitnesses:

WILLIAM Ii. Lnwaus, l\"lLiJiAI\i J. iiuo'nu.

